Sony's new president will be the man who played a vital role in the success of …

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Kazuo Hirai has been named as President and CEO of Sony Corporation. He will take the role on 1 April, and replace Howard Stringer in both roles.

Howard Stringer will become chairman of the board of directors in June, when Yotaro Kobayashi retires. Hirai is also expected to be appointed to the board in June.

Hirai, 51, is currently Sony's executive deputy president and chairman of the company's Computer Entertainment (SCE)—or PlayStation—arm.

He joined the firm in 1984 at Sony Music, before moving to SCE America in 1995, where he played a vital role in the PlayStation's US success. A mainstay amongst PlayStation executives, he replaced Ken Kutaragi as President of Sony Computer Entertainment in 2006.

Stringer, 69, recommended Hirai as his successor, saying that he had "distinguished himself through his work in the PlayStation and networked entertainment businesses." Stringer commented, "he is ready to lead, and the time to make this change is now."

In the announcement, Hirai laid out his plans for the future of Sony. "The path we must take is clear," he said, "drive the growth of our core electronics businesses—primarily digital imaging, smart mobile and game; to turn around the television business; and to accelerate the innovation that enables us to create new business domains."

Sony's next big launch is the PlayStation Vita: the quad-core successor to the PSP which launches on February 22.